New Delhi– The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved setting up of an off-campus of the Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI) in Jharkhand.

“The Cabinet has given its approval for establishment of Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Jharkhand,” an official statement said.

“It will have an estimated outlay of Rs 200.78 crore on 1,000-acre land provided by the government of Jharkhand at the Gauria Karma Village in Barhi Block of Hazaribagh,” it said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the Cabinet meeting.

Jharkhand is ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party.

lARI-Jharkhand would be a unique institution, which would possess all the hallmark identities of the IARI at New Delhi, including all sectors of agriculture like field crops, horticultural crops, agro-forestry, animal husbandry, fisheries, poultry, piggery, silk and lac rearing, honey production etc., the statement said.

The IARI-Jharkhand would work on the agrarian challenges and complexities of eastern India with all the existing central and state government research and development institutions and private sector enterprises.

It will undertake research, education, extension programmes in its mission towards developing quality human resource, generation of farmer-friendly technologies to enhance productivity, quality and profitability.

It will also promote agro-based industries and generate employment opportunities for holistic and sustainable development of the agriculture sector in the eastern region.